John and Permelia were married on March 3, 1867, and settled on a farm in Franklin County, Virginia. After two children, William Thomas and Minerva Ann, were born to them, they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by two missionaries, Thomas Daniels and Henry Boyle, from Payson, Utah. In 1874, at the suggestion of the missionaries, John and Permelia sold their farm and settled in Payson, Utah.
They purchased a log cabin on an entire town block in the southeast part of Payson. As time permitted they built a home and lived there until they both passed away. John Harve was born in 1875; Della Permelia in 1878; George Richardson in 1881, and On October 17, 1883, Sarah Jane was born.
Their grandson, Bert Amos Lewis, as a young boy spent time with John and Permelia on their farm. In later years Bert described them in this manner:
“John was 6’4”. He had grown up in Virginia, and loved to tell about his experiences in the Civil War. He claimed to have served in General Lee’s headquarters as both messenger and orderly. He also said three of his older brothers were killed (fought??) at Gettysburg. He was not overly active in the Church, but helped at church when asked.
Permelia Catherine Richardson Amos was a very slight lady not over five feet tall. She was always very calm and never raised her voice to anyone. Her husband respected her and they got along well. She was a good cook, aptly able to cook anything from beet greens to fried chicken. When the pigs were slaughtered, she made wonderful pork sausage, as well as lard. Her crowning achievement were her pumpkin pies.
John developed a fine farm in the fields just east of Payson and had quite an establishment in town. There was a main ranch house in the northwest corner.
Proceeding eastward was a wonderful cherry tree, a chopping block, wood pile, the main entrance from the street, the pig pen, corral, barn and garden. At the far northeasterly corner was a little house which John had built for his daughter Dell. The rest of the block was occupied by a granary, other outbuildings, several fruit trees and an outhouse. The inside plumbing in the ranch house was for women only.
In 1915 also living on the farm was Big George, a bachelor son, and Little George Strong, who was the youngest of Dell’s three children. Dell had died when her three children were very young, and John and Permelia had raised them. Dell’s two older children, Walter and Jeanette, had married and left the farm. Also on the farm was a dog named Dick, a herd of Holstein cows, one mean Holstein bull, many horses and pigs and running loose al the time was a large variety of chickens.
Catherine Permelia Richardson died on June 18, 1921 in Payson, Utah. On May 11, 1928, almost seven years later in Payson, her husband, John Amos, followed her in death.
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Salt Lake Telegram | 1928-05-13 | Utah Pioneer Dies at Payson
OBITUARY
PAYSON; MAY 12–John Amos, one of the most prosperous and well known farmers in this community, died at his home in the First ward Friday. He was born August 28, 1844, in Franklin county, Va. He married Permelia K. Richardson at Roanoke City, March 3, 1867. He served for three years in the Civil war from his native state. In 1874, he came to Utah and located in Payson. Mrs. Amos died June 19, 1922. Surviving are five children, William T., John H., and George Amos and Mrs. W.H. Reece of Payson and Mrs. Sadye Lewis of Provo, and eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 o’clock in the Fourth ward chapel, with the First ward bishopric in charge The high priests’ quorum of Nebo stake, of which he was a member, will attend in a body.
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